Match-making machine.



PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

L. H. MONTROSS. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 11. 1901.

I QIIIIIIJ Iiwentar: 1 w I31,

Wz'triessesx dwfi 6 No. 790.806. 'PATBNTE-D MAY 23, 1905.

V L, H. MONTROSS.

MATGHTMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.11. 1901.

' 2SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- WL'tMS-res:

1m). 790,306. Patented May 23, 1905.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI H. MONTROSS, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNA- TIO'NAL MATCH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF- PENNSYLVANIA.

MATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,306, dated May 23, 1905. Application filed February 11, 1901. Serial No. 46,360.

T whom it y elm/067%: of the same, showing the splint cutting and Be it known that I, LEVI H. MoN'rRoss, of introducing devices in a position different the city of Camden, county of Camden, and i from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a trans- State of New Jersey, have invented an Imverse vertical sectional view of the splint cut- 5 provement in Match-Making Machines, of tingand introducing devices, taken on the line which the following is a specification. A A of Fig. 1. Fig. A is a front elevation of 55 My invention relates to match-making mathe composition-applying devices, and Fig. 5 chines; and it consists of certain improveis a perspective view of a portion of the splintlnents, which are fully set forth in the followcarrier.

1o ing specification andare shown in the accoma isa traveling splint receiver and carrier panying drawings. made up of a series of parallel transverse bars 60 A part of my improvements relates to a cOnor portions, between which the splints are intinuously-operating or automatic machinetroduced and carried during the heading and '5. a, one in which, the splints are cut and indrying operations and from which they are troduced into. an endless traveling carrier, finally ejected by the ejecting devices. So

headed, dried, and ejected as finished matches far as the other features of my invention are 5 withoutintermediate handling. As the splint concerned the particularconstruction of this cutting and introducing operations are intercarrier is not material. The construction 'mittent, it is usual to suspend or interrupt the shown consists of two chains of links a a,

forward travel of the carrier while the splints carrying transverse bars 5, each pair of oppoare introduced, and this results in an intersite links being adapted to carry a series of 70 rupted movement of other portions of the carbars, (three are shown,) the bars being prorier. vided on their ends with trunnions b, insert- It is one of the objects of my invention to aced in sockets a in the links and held against oomplish this suspension or interrupting of the rotation (which would result in the displaceforward travel of the carrier while the splints ment of the splints) by flattened end faces 6 75 are being introduced without suspending or received in longitudinal grooves a on the ininterrupting the continuous forward travel of ner faces of the links. If desired, each link the carrier at those portions Where the match may carry two bars or more than three, or

heading or ejecting operations are taking any of the other forms of splint receiving place. This result I accomplish by devices and carrying devices may be used. The bars 0 which convert the forward travel of the carmay be grooved or roughened, if desired, to rier into areciprocating motion in the line of render their hold upon the splints more firm; movement. of the splint-introducing devices, but this is not necessary.

so that no forward motion of the carrier with In practice the carrier at is usually continureference to the splint introducing devices ous and extends through the splint cutting and 8 5 takes place during the introduction of the receiving devices,whereitreceives thesplints, splints and at the same time the regular conthence through the heading devices,where the tinuous travel of the other portions of the heads are applied, then through the air or 4 carrier is not interrupted. through driers for a greater or less extent Myinvention also embraces minor combina- (not shown) for the purpose of drying the 9 tions of mechanisms and novel constructions, heads, and finally to the ejecting devices by which are fully set forth in the claims. which the finished splints are expelled. From In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation the ejecting devices the carrier returns again of a portion of a match-making machine with to the splint cutting andreceiving devices to part in longitudinal vertical section, only so receive new splints, and the operation of head much of the/machine being shown as is necing, drying, and expelling is repeated. The essary to explain my invention. Fig. 2 is a carrier passes over suitable guides and is longitudinal vertical sectional view of a part driven in its movements by sprocket-wheels,

which in practice may be located at different portions of the machine and to which power may be transmitted in any convenient way. I have shown only so much of these driving devices as is necessary to an understanding of my invention.

I shall separately describe the splint cutting and introducing devices, the match-heading devices, and ejecting devices.

The 3 Ztnt cutting (m cl tottroctuetn 9 devices. 00 0e are carrier guiding and feeding sprocketwheels by which the carrier is fed through the splint cutting and receiving devices. They are shown carried by transverse shafts c c, journaled in side frames at d, and engage the spaces between the bars of the belt adjacent to the outer ends thereof. These sprocketwheels are driven by bevel-gears rt rt from a longitudinal shaft (Z operated by worm-gearing (Z from a vertical shaft rt, driven by bevel-gears from the main driving-shaft e. (See Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

f f are vertically-movable guides or wheels, under which the carrier (t passes, located between the sprocket-wheels 0 e. As shown,these disks are carried by a transverse shaft f, journaled in frames f f, guided in vertical guides f in the side frames (Z (Z and normally held in an elevated position by springs ff, which are shown connected with the frames f f by yokesf f g g and g g are pairs of auxiliary guide wheels or disks carried by the frames f f one pair on each side of the disks 1 f, over which the carrier passes, as shown in Fig. 1. These guide-disks are arranged close to the wheels f f, so that the carrier will be bent about the periphery of the wheel f f, as shown, and the pair of guide-disks, as g g, on one side are arranged at a higher elevation than the disks g g on the other side, the arrangement being such that with the frames f f elevated, as in Fig. 1, the section of the carrier lying between the disks 9 g and the in feeding-sprockets 0 will lie substantially hori- Zontal, while the section on the other side between the disks g g and the outfeedingsprockets will incline upwardly. This is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

h it are cams carried by a shaft 71, journaled in the side frames at (Z and acting through pivoted dogs 7L2 7L2 on the frames f f to depress the frames and the guide-wheels carried thereby at intervals. The cam-shaft it may be driven by any suitable driving connections, as by bevel-gears it, from the vertical shaft (Z 2' is a reciprocating cutter-frame carrying the cutters t, which act upon the block in the usual manner to out a series of splints from the edge thereof on the descending movement and lift the splints to the carrier on the ascending movement. As the construction of these cutting devices and the means for feeding the block are thoroughly understood, I have not undertaken to show them more in detail than is necessary to render my invention intelligible.

Any suitable splint-cutting devices may be employed by which the splints are cut from the edge of the block by vertically-rcciprocating cutters. 1 have shown the cutter-frame t driven from a crank 11 of the power-shaft e through a rod t".

The operation of the splint-cutter is so timed with reference to the movement of the carrier that it reaches its highest position to insert the splints between the bars at the moment the carrier is depressed by the guide ff. The forward movement of the body of the carrier is continuous throughout themachine; but by the peculiar arrangement and movement of the guides ff, 1, and 7 g the forward travel of that portion of the carrier which receives the splints from the cutters is suspend ed while the splints are being introduced, and this suspension of the forward movement is effected without interrupting the continuous forward movement of the other portions of the carrier. With the carrier in the position shown in Fig. 1 when the guides ff, r and r 7 are elevated the carrier-section between 7 and e is horizontal, while that between g and c is inclined. At this moment the cutters are just reaching their highest position to introduce the splints. The cams it then with a quick movement depress the frames t"" and the guides ff, 1 7, and r 1 the cfl'fect of which is to make the section 0 to 7 inclined (and consequently longer) and the section a to 9 straight, (and consequently shorter,) as shown in Fig. 2. This lengthening of the section 0 to g takes up the extent of its forward movement without producing any forward movement in the section between the guides g g and g g, and the shortening of the section 0 to 7' enables the sprocket e to take up the extent of the forward movementon the othersidc, also without affecting the section between 5/ and g. The return of the guidcsf'f', r 1, to the positions shown in Fig. 1 moves the section between {I and (7 forward the distance of one bar without producing any forward movement in the carrier beyond the sprockets o o e 0. Thus the forward movement of that sec-. tion of the carrier in which the splints are introduced is suspended at the moment of receiving the splints without interrupting the continuous motion of the other part of the belt.

Means must be employed for closing the backs of the cutters and forcing the splints into the carrier. For this purpose I employ a movable striker or back-stop, which at the moment the cutters are about to introduce the splints into the carrier strikes the cutter-eyes and forces the splint out of them and into the carrier. As shown, this striker consists of a transverse bar 7', preferably of hard wood, carried by arms 7 2 on a rock-shaftyf, ournaIed transversely 1n the side frames at (t and above the wood feeder. When the striker is at rest, as shown in Fig. 1, it is just out of the path of the cutters, so as not to interfere with-their movements. When the cutters have ascended to the position shown in Fig. 1 and are on the point of introducing the splints into the carrier, the striker is thrown up and strikes the cutter-eyes, forcing the splints into the carrier. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating the striker. I have shown a bar carried by the cutter-frame and operatively connected with the rock-shaft merged therein.

by means of teeth engaging teeth or lugs on the rock-shaft. The construction should be one which will impart a quick upward movement to the striker and enable it to return out of the path of the cutters before they descend. I prefer to form the operative face of the striker with projections which will enter the eyes of the cutters, and thus act as hammers to drive out the splints into the car rier. By using a wooden bar 1' these projections will be formed in the wood by the action of the striker, and their proper location will be insured. There will also be less danger of injury to the cutting edges of the eyes. The match heading and ejecting dem'ces. The carrier thus provided with rows of splints passes with a continuous motion through the heading devices. I have shown the carrier passing on guides 70, by which the heads of the splints are carried through the usual paraflining-pan Z4 and thence over guides to the guide or drum 70 above the compositionapp'lying drum Z, which is journaled in the composition-pot Z, so as to be partly sub- The carrier-guide [a may be driven in any suitable manner-cg by the sprocket-chain l0 from the power-shaft e. Carried by the shaft of the guide 70 is a friction-wheel m, the diameter of which is approximately equal to the diameter of the guide A? and carrier plus the projecting length of the splintsf Carried by the shaft of the composition-drum is a friction-wheel m, of a diameter approximately equal to that of the composition-drum, which runs in frictional contact with the wheel m of the guide 70 and is driven by friction thereby. By facing the wheels m and m with rubber or other fleXible material a yielding driving connection is afforded which will reduce the scraping of the splint-heads on the drum-surface.

The composition-pot is usually provided with a steam-chest Z to keep the composition heated.

It is desirable that the composition should be kept stirred or agitated, and for this purthe pot and carried by rocking arms a n on the drum-journal, one of said arms being provided with an extenslon 92 which receives a reciprocating rod 72 operated by a crank at on a shaft 72?, operated by a guide or sprocket a, driven by the carrier or by independent driving devices. By these means the bar a is rocked back and forth in the composition to keep it stirred up. The rod n is preferably detachably connected with the agitating device, and I have shown it connected with the extension of by a jaw.

Owing to the liability of fires from the ignition of the matches in the carrier it is desirable that means should be provided for removing the composition-pot from its position adjacent to the match-carrier. For this purpose I have shown the composition-pot Z mounted on wheels 0 on a track 19, the body of the track being substantially below the carrier, but provided with an elevated sec tion or portion 12, which will elevate the pot when drawn upon it to bring the surface of the composition-drum in position to act upon the splints, as shown in Fig. 1. The pot may be secured in this position by any convenient device, such as the screw 1*, and may be ad justed by the adjusting-nut r. To remove the composition-pot, it is only necessary to detachthe rod n and release the pot, when it will descend by gravity on the track 1) 19' away from thecarrier a.

Any convenient form of match-ejectingdevices may be employed. I- have shown a drum 8, provided with aseriesof longitudinal ribs .9, adapted to enter the spaces in the car rier from the rear as the carrier travels over it and eject them upon an apron or receiver 25. The ejecting-drum is driven continuously with the'carrie'r, either by the carrier itself or by suitable driving connections. Thus the operations of heading the splints and ejecting the matches are continuous or uninterrupted, while the splint cutting and introducing devices operate intermittently, this being elfect ed'by the reciprocatingguidesff, g g, g g, which suspend the forward travel of the carrier while thesplints are being introduced without affecting the continuous forward travel of the body of the carrier.

I do not mean to limit my invention to the details of construction which have been shown, as they may be varied without departing from my invention. i

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a match-making machine, the combination of a splint-carrier, means to introduce the splints into the carrier, driving devices for imparting a continuous traveling motion to the carrier, guides for guiding the carrier while it receives the splints, and means for moving said guides to take up the forward movement of the carrier during the introduction of the splints, whereby the forward movement of the carrier with reference to the splint-introducing devices is suspended during the introduction of the splints without in- &

rupting the continuous forward travel of the,

body of the carrier.

3. In a match-making machine, the combi nation of a splint-carrier, reciprocating splintintroducing devices adapted to introduce the splints into the carrier, driving devices for imparting a continuous traveling motion to said carrier, guides for said traveling carrier located on each side of the point at which the splints are introduced, movable guides for said carrier between the first-mentioned guides and the point at which the splints are introduced, said movable guides being arranged in different horizontal planes, and means to reciprocate said movable guides in the direction of the reciprocation of the splint-introducing devices at the moment the splints are being introduced, whereby the forward traveling motion of the carrier is suspended at the moment the splints are introduced without interrupting the continuous forwardtravel of the body of the carrier.

4.. Ina match-making machine, the combination of a splint-carrier, reciprocating splintintroducing devices adapted to introduce the splints into the carrier, driving devices for imparting a continuous traveling motion to .said carrier, guides for said traveling carrier located on each side of the point at which the splints are introduced, movable guides for said carrier between the firstmentioned guides and the point at which the splints are introduced, said movable guides being arranged in different horizontal planes, guides for said carrier located between said movable guides and moving with them, and means to reciprocate said movable guides in the direction of the reciprocation of the splint-introducing devices at the moment the splints are being introduced, whereby the forward traveling motion of the carrier is suspended at the moment the splints are introduced without interrupting the continuous forward travel of the body of the carrier.

5. In a match-making machine, the combination of a splint-carrier, reciprocating splintintroducing devices adapted to introduce splints into the carrier, driving devices for imparting a continuous traveling motion to said carrier, guides c, c, c, 0, located on each side of the point at which the splints are introduced, movable guides f, f located between the guides 0, c, 0, 0, guides r/ and g movable with the guides f, f and located one pair on each side thereof and in different horizontal planes with reference to the guides 0, c, c, 0, and means to reciprocate said guides f, f, g, g, gt, 9, in the line of reciprocation of the splint-introducing devices at the moment the splints are being introduced.

6. In a match-making machine, the combination of a splint-carrier, reciprocating spl intintroducing devices adapted to introduce splints into the carrier, driving-guides e, v, c, 0, located on each side of the pointat which the splints are introduced and imparting a continuous forward traveling motion to said carrier, movable guides fif located between the guides c, c, c, 0, guides 1, 1/ and g, g movable with the guidesfif andlocated one pair on each side thereof and in different horizontal planes with reference to the guides c, c, c, c, and means to reciprocate said guides f,f, g, g, g, g in the line of reciprocation of the splint-introducing devices at the moment the splints are being introduced.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

LEVI H. h'ION'lROSS.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT halrronmm, (l. IERRIN. 

